Monday 3 March 2014

‘Hundreds arrested at oil pipeline protest outside White House’

Nearly 400 people were reportedly arrested in the US yesterday while protesting against an oil pipeline.

Reports claim the protestors, which included students from 80 colleges, strapped themselves to the White House fence following which the arrests were made. They were trying to pressure the Obama Administration against approving the 1,700-mile crude oil pipeline from Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast.

The protestors were holding banners and chanting songs while others held signs and slogans like “Keystone XL: pipeline to hell” and “Keep your oil out of my soil”.

More than 86,000 people have reportedly signed a “Pledge of Resistance” promising to engage in civil disobedience if the project is approved.

Reports claim the Administration has delayed a final decision on whether to approve the controversial project – which has support from the Republicans and industrial groups – but is facing opposition from environmental groups and many Democrat supporters.